Sofa or divan



July 22, 1941. P. 1-}. BONNET arm.

SOFA 0R DIVAN Filed Oct. 20, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 \nvenTorsQ Ls KM M CHmf QB ZH E rm 0 H In H W .w

P. H. BONNET ETAL SOFA OR DIVAN Filed Oct. 20', 1959 3 SheetsSheet 3gigll.

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Patented July 22, 1941 SOFA OR DIVAN Philippe H. Bonnet, Boston, andHarry Zellick, Revere, Mass; said Bonnet assignor to said ZellickApplication October 20, 1939, Serial No. 300,308

4 Claims.

This invention relates to a sofa or divan of that type which isconstructed so that it can be converted into a bed.

These convertible sofas are commonly made with a sofa portion and withan extensible section that is usually stored beneath the sofa portionwhen the piece of furniture is being used as a sofa or divan, but isadapted to be withdrawn from beneath the sofa portion when the furnitureis to be converted into a bed.

' One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a sofa ofthis type having a novel method of supporting and guiding the extensiblesection when the latter is being pulled out from under the sofa portionto make a bed or is being returned to its stored position beneath thesofa portion.

A further object of the invention is to provide novel means forsupporting the extensible section when it has been entirely withdrawnfrom its stored position.

A further object of the invention is to provide a convertible sofa witha swinging back which is placed in an inclined position when theextensible member is stored beneath the sofa portion and the piece offurniture is being used as a sofa, but which is swung into a more nearlyvertical position when the extensible member has been withdrawn, therebyto convert the piece of furniture into a bed. By this construction, theback is given a proper position to provide a con fortable back for thesofa, but the swinging of the back into its more nearly verticalposition when the extensible section is withdrawn provides a Wider bed.

When the extensible section is pulled out to convert the piece offurniture into a bed, the cushions of the sofa portion are used as themattress for the extensible section, and in the construction hereinshown, a cover is provided which is normally rolled up on a springroller and which can be unrolled from the spring roller and drawn acrossthe mattress elements of the bed when the furniture is to be convertedinto a bed.

Further objects of the invention are to improve generally devices ofthis type in the manner hereinafter more fully set forth and thenpointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, wherein we have illustrated a selected embodiment ofour invention;

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view through a sofa embodying ourinvention, the extensible section being shown in its stored positionbeneath the sofa portion and the upholstery being omitted in order tosimplify the drawings.

Fig. 2 is a similar sectional view showing the extensible section pulledout into its position for converting the article of furniture into abed.

Fig. 3 is a partial section similar to Figs. 1

and 2 but illustrating the operation of withdrawing the extensiblesection.

Fig. 4 is a front view of Fig.2.

Fig. 5 is a section through one corner of the sofa on the line 5-5, Fig.1.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view showing the operation of thesupporting slide by which the extensible section is supported as it iswithdrawn from beneath the sofa portion.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary vertical section through the front rail of theframe of the sofa portion showing the skirt member which conceals theextensible section in its operative position.

Fig. 8 is a similar view showing the skirt member in its lowered orinoperative position which it assumes when the extensible section is tobe withdrawn.

Fig. 9 is a section on the line 9-9, Fig. 8.

' Fig. 10 is a fragmentary sectional view showing means for locking theskirt portion in its operative position.

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating the supporting legsfor supporting the front edge of the extensible section as it is beingwithdrawn.

Fig. 12 is a section on the line l2|2, Fig. 11.

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary view showing the means for supporting theextensible section when the furniture is being used as a bed.

Fig. 14 is a section on the line I l-l4, Fig. 13 showing the leg folded.

Fig. 15 is a section on the line l5-l5, Fig. 14.

The fixed or sofa portion of my improved sofa is indicated generally atl and the frame thereof comprises the front rail 2 and rear rail 3 whichare connected by end rails 4, said frame having the legs 5 and alsohaving the frame portion 6 for the arms of the sofa and a back portion 1supporting the back of .the sofa.

It will be understood, of course, that the arms and back are providedwith the usual upholstery, the upholstery of the arms being omitted fromthe drawings in the interests of clearness.

The seat of the sofa comprises the spring mattress or padding shown indotted lines at 8, this being conveniently supported on burlap stripswhich are secured to the side and end rails of the frame, as usual infurniture of this nature. There is shown at 9 in dotted lines in Fig. 1a seat cushion which is placed on the mattress or bedding 8, and it is acommon expedient to divide the entire seat cushion of a sofa into two,three or more sections.

The extensible section which is normally stored beneath the seat of thesofa portion when the piece of furniture is being used as a sofa, butwhich can be withdrawn or extended to form with the sofa a bed, isindicated generally at l0. This extensible section comprises the frontrail I I, the

rear rail I2 and the two end rails I3 which connect .the front and rearside rails. This frame comprising the front and rear rails and the endrails supports a bed bottom spring structure I4 58, and which normallyoccupies a position in front of the extensible section Ill, and therebyconceals the latter when the furniture is being used as a sofa.

When the extensible section I8 is to be withdrawn into theposition shownin Fig. 2, the skirt if is swung downwardly into its inoperativeposition shown in Fig. 2 beneath the extensible section iii, so that thelatter is free to be drawn forward along the horizontal flanges I5 ofthe angle iron members I B. I

The extensible section it! is provided with folding supporting legswhich are in their folded position when said extensible section is inits stored position shown in Fig. 1, but are automatically swungdownwardly into open position for supporting the extensible section asthe latter is withdrawn from beneath the sofa frame. There are two suchfolding supporting legs, one pivoted to each end rail I3 of theextensible section. These folding supporting legs are shown at I9, andeach is pivotally secured at its upper end to its end rail I3. Each leg59 is shown as formed-of sheet metal which is bent to provide the frontface 26 of the leg and the two side faces 2|, and the edges of the sidefacesare bent inwardly as indicatedat 22 and then bent backwardly towardthe front face as indicated at 23. Each leg is pivotally mounted on apivotal pin 24, one end of which is carried by the vertical leg of theangle iron end piece I 3;, and the other of which is carried by theplate that is secured to the horizontal leg of the angle iron I3.

Cooperating with each supporting leg I9 is a brace member 26 which ispivoted to the end rail Hat '2? and the free end; of which entersbetween the two inturned flanges 2 3 as best seen in Figs. 11 and 12.Each flange 23 is provided with a notch 23 and the brace 26 is formedwith a transversely extending pin 23a adapted to be seated in saidnotches when the leg 2i) is in its operative position. 29 indicates aspringelement having two arms connected by a coil 30. One arm 3i bearsagainst the horizontal flange of the end rail IB-and the end of theother arm 32 is provided witha hook portion 33 which hooks over thebrace 26. The tendency of the spring is to swing the brace 26 downwardlyinto its operative position shown in Fig. 1. This leg I9, however, canbe folded up against the horizontal arm of the angle iron end rail I3,as shown in dotted lines, Fig. 11, and when so folded, the spring 29will be placed under increased tension.

When the extensible section ill is in its stored position, as shown inFig. 1, the two. legs I9 are in their folded position lying on thehorizontal flange I 5 of theangle iron supporting member I6.

When the extensible section I0 is pulled outwardly to convert the sofainto a bed, the legs I9 will slide along the angle iron member I6 untilsaid legs have been carried beyond the front edge of said supportingmember I6, and when the extensible section reaches this position, thespring 29 acting on the brace 26 will swing the leg downwardly into itsoperative position shown in Fig. 3. At this time, while the extensiblesection is thus partially withdrawn, the front edge thereof will besupported by the legs I9 while the rear edge is still being supported bythe angle iron member i6. Each of the legs I9 is preferably provided atits lower end with a roll 34 which rests on the floor 35 and makes arolling support for the extensible section ill. These legs I9 thusrelieve the operator from the necessity of carrying the weight of thefront edge of the extensible section while the latter is being extended,all'that is necessary for the operator to do being to pull forwardly on;

the extensible section to withdraw it.

Each of the angle iron supporting members I5. is provided with a slidingsupport 36 which is movable from its retracted position shown in Fig. 3to its extended or operative position shown in Fig. 6 and which, when inits operative position, provides a support for the rear edge oftheextensible section it) during the final withdrawing movement of thelatter. There are two of these sliding supports 36, one associated witheach of the angle iron supporting members I6. Each sliding support has ahorizontal base portion 37 resting on the horizontal flange I5 of theangle iron member it and each base 3'! has one or more headed studs 38which operate in a slot 39 formed in the horizontal flange I5 of theangle iron member it. Each sliding support 36 is also provided with avertical flange 40 having an inclined rear end iI and also having ashoulder 42. During the latter part of the forward movement of theextensible section II], the rear rail I2 thereof will ride up theinclined portion M of the vertical flange M3 and just before the ex-.tensible section has reached the limit of its forward movement, saidrear rail I 2 will engage the shoulder 42, so that during the finalwithdrawing movement of the section II), the sliding support 35 will bemoved forwardly from the position shown in Fig. 3 into the positionshown in Fig. 6, and thereby will form a support for the rear edge ofthe extensible section I0 when the latter has been fully withdrawn.

The folding legs I9 and the sliding supports 36 form a temporary supportfor the extensible section I0 when it is completely withdrawn frombeheath the sofa portion. The permanent support for the extensiblesection, when the piece of furniture is being used as a bed, is providedby the supporting legs 43 which are pivoted to the front and rear railsII and I2 and are normally folded up into a closed position directlybeneath the bed bottom I 4, as shown in Fig. 13. There are two pairs oflegs 43, one adjacent each end of the extensible section and in thepreferred construction, the lower ends of the legs of each pair areconnected by a cross member 44. These permanent legs can conveniently bemade of a length of tubing which is bent into the general U-shape shownin Fig. 2, and while any suitable pivotal connection between the legsand the front and back rails may be pro vided, we prefer to employ thatshown best in Figs. 13 and 14. The upper end ofeach leg portion 43 isbent laterally, as shown at 45, and the laterally bent portion ispivotally mounted on a stud 36 which is anchored in the front rail orback rail. These permanent legs. 43 may thus be swung into theirinoperative position shown in dotted lines, Fig. 13, or may be swungdownwardly into their operative position shown in Figs, 2, 4, and 13.These permanent legs may be retained in their inoperative or foldedposition by means of spring retainers 41 which are secured to the frontrail II, the free end 48 of each spring retainer being bent laterallyand provided with a concave seat 49 in which one of the legs 43 may bereceived. These retainers yieldingly hold the legs 43 in their foldedposition, but by applying sufficient downward pull on the legs, they maybe released from the retainers and swung downwardly into their operativepositions. These legs 43 are longer than the temporary supporting legsl9 and when the extensible section has been pulled forwardly free fromthe sofa section, then the operator releases the legs 43 and raises eachend of the extensible section to permit the legs to swing downwardlyinto their operative supporting position. The front rail II and rearrail 12 of the extensible section are each provided with stop flanges 50with which thelegs 13 have engagement when they are in their operativeposition. These flanges are slightly inclined, so that the operativeposition of the permanent supporting legs 43 is an inclined position, asshown best in Fig. 1. The legs 43 at the opposite ends of the extensiblesection, therefore, incline downwardly and away from each other so thatthe weight on the extensible section will maintain the legs firmlyagainst the inclined stop flanges 55, thus obviating any possibilitythat the legs will collapse when the piece of furniture is being used asa bed.

When the extensible section has been withdrawn into its operativeposition shown in Fig. 2, and is properly supported on the permanentlegs 43, then the bed is completed by shifting the seat cushions 9 fromthe pad 8 onto the bed bottom M of the extensible section, also shown inFig. 2. The thickness of the seat cushions 9 is such that when they areplaced on the bed bottom I4, the upper surface thereof comes flush withthe spring or mattress structure 3 of the sofa.

51 indicates a pad or cover which may be drawn across the mattressmembert and the cushions 5 to provide a smooth bed bottom. This pad 5!is normally wound up on a spring roller 52 which is journaled in twobrackets 53 carried by the sofa frame I at its back side, there beingone bracket at each end of the sofa frame. The pad 5! is normally rolledup on the spring roller 52 as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, but it can beunrolled from the roller and pulled across the mattress member 8 andcushions 9 when the extensible section has been extended, as seen inFig. 2. This pad or cover is provided at its free edge with a stick 54similar to the stick in an ordinary shade, and it is also provided atits edge with one or more hooks 55 adapted to hook over the edge of thevertical leg of the front rail II, as shown in Fig. 2, thereby to retainthe cover or pad in its operative position.

The back of the sofa has a pivoted back section 55 which section ishinged at its upper edge to the back 1 of the sofa frame, as shown at51. This swinging back member 55 is provided with the usual upholstery58. Means are provided whereby when the extensible section I is in itsstored position, the lower end of the swinging back 55 will be swungforwardly, thus providing a back for the sofa which is properly inclinedto provide a comfortable sofa back. When the extensible member I ispulled forwardly, the lower end of the back section 55 swings backwardlyso that said back section has a more vertical position, therebyproviding additional width to the bed. At each of the ends the loweredge of the hinged back section 56 is pivotally connected by a pin and aslot joint 59 to the upper end of a lever 60 which is pivoted to thebrackets 53. The lower end 61 of each lever extends into a position tobe engaged by the rear rail 12 of the extensible section when the latteris in its stored position, as shown in Fig. 1. The engagement of therear rail 12 with the lower end 6! of each lever 60 swings the levers ina clockwise direction from the position shown in Fig, 2, therebyswinging the lower end of the back section 56 forwardly into itsoperative position.

When the extensible section I0 is pulled forwardly out of engagementwith the lower end SI of the lever 60, then the weight of the backsection 56 causes the lower end to swing backwardly into the positionshown in Fig. 2, thereby giving increased width to the bed.

We have referred above to the removable skirt 11. This skirt issupported by a special hinge construction which permits it to swing fromits operative vertical position shown in Figs. 1 and 7 into a loweredhorizontal position beneath the extensible section Ill, as shown inFigs. 2 and 8. This skirt l1 has two plates 52 secured to the insidethereof, one at each end, and each plate has two links 63 and 64 pivotedthereto at its opposite ends. These links 63 and 64 are also pivoted toanother plate 65 secured to the underside of the angle iron member IS.The length of the link 63 is the same as the distance between thepivotal connections 65 and 61 of said links 63 and 64 with the plate 65.When the skirt I1 is in its lowered position, shown in Figs. 2 and 8,the operation of swinging said link into its operative position shown inFigs. 2 and '1 consists in first swinging the skirt forwardly about thetwo parallel links 53, 64, into the dotted line position, Fig. 8. Thisbrings the pivotal point 68 between the link 63 and the plate 62 intoaxial alinement with the pivotal connection 61 between the link 64 andthe plate 65, and also folds the link 64 against the inside of the skirtl1. Said skirt may then be turned about the alined pivotal points 61,68, as an axis, and swung into its operative position shown in Figs. 1and 7 The skirt may be held in its operative position by any suitablemeans, and we have herein shown for this purpose a catch 69 carried bythe front rail 2 of the sofa frame, and a springpressed latch plate 10carried by the skirt I1. This latch plate is slidably mounted in asuitable housing 11 and is provided with an opening 12 to receive thecatch 69. The latch member 10 is acted on by a spring 13 tending to holdit in looking engagement with the catch and the lower end 14 of thelatch member operates in a recess 15 formed in the lower edge of theskirt I1. When the skirt is swung into its operative position, thepointed end of the catch 69 will pass through the opening 12 in thelatch member and the upper edge of said opening will ride up theinclined face of the catch and then drop behind the shoulder of thecatch under the action of the spring 13, thereby locking the skirt inits operative position. When the skirt is to be released, the operatorpushes upwardly on the lower end 14 of the latch member, therebyreleasing the latch member from the catch 69. The skirt may then beswung forwardly into the dotted line position, Fig. 8, from whichposition it will swing by gravity to its lowered position shown in fulllines, Fig. 8.

The skirt H extends the full length of the sofa, from one end to theother thereof, as shown in Fig. 4, and is, therefore, somewhat longerthan the extensible section II).

When the extensible section is pulled forwardly, it passes over thelowered skirt I7, and the folding legs [9 do not drop down into theiroperative position shown in Fig. 3 until after they have passedforwardly to a position in front of the lowered skirt 11. During theforward movement of the extensible section, the permanent legs 43 are intheir folded position shown in dotted lines Fig. 13, and hence thelowered skirt does not in any way interfere with the movement of theextensible section from its stored position to its operative position.

When the extensible section is moved backwardly into its storedposition, the braces 26' of the legs i 9 will be brought into engagementwith the front edge of the angle iron rails l5, and the pressure of therails against said braces 26 will cause the legs I9 to be folded upagainst the dotted line positions, shown in Fig. 13. When this is done,the rear edge of the extensible section Hi will drop downwardly onto theextended sliding support all and the front end of said extensiblesection will drop down onto the folding legs 19. When the extensiblesection is in this lowered position, then it can be moved backwardlyinto its stored position on the angle iron rails l5, and during suchbackward movement, the legs i9 will be folded as above described, andduring the final portion of such backward movement, the front rail l I-will engage the sliding supports 36 thereby returning them to theposition shown in Fig. 1. When the extensible section has been thusplaced in its stored position, the skirt ll may be swung upwardly intoits operative position also shown in Fig. 1, as described above.

We claim:

1. A convertible sofa comprising a sofa portion having a seat andprovided with horizontal supporting flanges at its ends beneath theseat, an extensible section normally occupying a stored position beneaththe seat in which it rests on said flanges, said extensible sectionhaving a back ,rail, folding supporting legs pivotally secured to theextensible section for supporting the front part thereof as it is beingextended, sliding supports mounted on the supporting flanges at thefront thereof, each being slidable on its flange forwardly to carry itsfront end into an extended position and having an upstanding rearwardlydirected shoulder adapted to be engaged by the back rail of theextensible member during the final portion of its movement intooperative position, said sliding supports providing means to support therear edge of the extensible section when the latter is fully extended.

2. A convertible sofa comprising a sofa portion having a seat and alsohaving horizontal supporting flanges beneath the seat, one at each end,

an extensible section movable from a stored position beneath the seat inwhich it is supported on said flanges to an extended operative position,folding legs pivotally secured to the extensible section for supportingthe front part thereof as it is being extended, a sliding supportcarried by each flange at the front end thereof and having a limitedforward and backward sliding movement relative thereto, each slidingsupport having an upstanding rearwardly facing shoulder adapted to beengaged by the rear edge of the extensible section during the finalportion of the movement of the latter into its extended position,whereby during such final movement the sliding supports are movedforwardly into position to support the rear portion of the extensiblesection when the latter has been carried beyond the limits of thesupporting flanges.

3. A convertible sofa comprising a sofa portion having a seat and asupporting flange beneath the seat at each end, an extensible sectionnormally occupying a stored position beneath the seat in which it restson said supporting flanges but movable to an extended operativeposition, means to support the extensible section in its operativeposition, a removable panel at the front edge of the sofa portion which,when in operative position, conceals the stored extensible section, apivotal connection between said panel and each supporting flange, whichpermits the panel to swing from its operative position downwardly intoan inoperative position below the extensible section, each pivotalconnection comprising a pair of links of equal lengths pivoted at oneend to the supporting portion and at the other end to the panel, thelinks of each pair being spaced apart in a direction transverselyof thepanel a distance equal to the length of the links, whereby, when thepanel is in operative position, the pivotal connection of the rear linkof each pair with the panel is alined with the pivotal connection of thefront link of each pair with the supporting flange.

4. A convertible sofa comprising a sofa portion having legs and alsohaving a supporting flange beneath the seat thereof at each end, anextensible section provided with end rails resting on said flanges, saidextensible section being slidable on said flanges from a stored positionbeneath the seat of the sofa portion to an extended operative position,a leg pivoted to each end rail of the extensible section at a pointspaced from the front end thereof a distance as great as the length ofthe leg, each leg being held in a folded position parallel to the endrail and resting on said flange and with its lower end directedforwardly when the extensible section is in its stored position, eachleg having an open forwardly facing notch, a brace member pivoted toeach end rail at apoint in the rear of the pivotal point of thecorresponding leg and having its free end in engagement with said leg,and a spring acting on each brace member and yieldingly holding itagainst the leg, whereby when the extensible section is pulled forwardlyto a point where the legs are carried beyond the supporting flanges ofthe sofa portion, the springs acting through the brace members swing thelegs downwardly into a vertical position in which the ends of the bracemembers enter and have locking engagement with the notches of the legs.

PHILIPPE H. BONNET. HARRY ZELLICK.

